Tuesday, 5 May 2015

British Sikhs & General Election 2015

Regardless of the outcome of the UK
General Election on 7 May, the main objective of the SikhManifesto has been
achieved. Collated after nationwide
consultations, the Manifesto is focussed on Sikh issues. The process of consultation generated much
interest and publicity within the community.

The glossy publication has been
widely distributed in the UK. For the
first time in the history of British Sikhs, all Parliamentary candidates are
aware of what Sikh issues are. Even the
Sikhs themselves are better informed about own medium and longer term concerns
and interests as a distinct miri-piri
(temporal-spiritual) community in the British plural society.

We can say with confidence that
following the events of 2014, including World War 1 commemorations which
featured young Sikhs in WW1 uniforms, that the distinct Sikh identity is no
longer “mistaken”. Some of these events
made mainstream media headlines.

(Young Sikhs in WW1 uniforms at Sandhurst, UK)

Parliamentary lobbying, questions and debates have
covered Sikh issues and concerns and the main political parties are alert to
Sikh voting power.

(French Sikh students at a Sikh Parliament lobby day organised by Sikh Federation UK.The students addressed MPs in fluent French.)Daring initiatives by identity Sikhs,
like the aid ventures of Ravinder Singh of Khalsa Aid in Iraq, promoting the
Sikh institution of “langar” seva, held
sustained media interest; as did Khalsa Aid’s earlier response to appeal by Somerset
(UK) flood victims.

(Ravinder Singh of Khalsa Aid with author)Sikhs are an outstanding example of harmonised
living with sister communities. They have shown how diversity – in their case
distinct Sikh religio-cultural identity – can be accommodated within national
identity. They have retained own core values and way of life while enriching
the way of life of the countries they live in.

On 25 April, the 100th anniversary of
Australian and New Zealand (ANZAC) troops landing at Gallipoli in World War I,
was marked by nationwide commemorative events.

As I write this article from Australia, I am also looking at some images of visible Sikh presence at these
events in Australia and New Zealand.Sikhs marching on ANZAC Day in Sydney, Australia. Prominent local Sikhs are alert to
such opportunities.

In South Australia, Sardar Baldev Singh Dhaliwal JP, ex-Councillor
and leading community mentor for over
three decades, attended local commemorations at Adelaide, to show Sikh solidarity with fellow Australians. (Baldev Singh Dhaliwal JP when he became the first Sikh Councillor in Riverland, South Australia.)

A Sikh Australian
journalist wrote, “As Australians prepare to mark this centenary with great
respect, to honour those who fell in the battle, the contribution of Indian
troops in Gallipoli is also being remembered. They comprised Gurkha and Sikh
battalions, and thousands of mule drivers who literally moved the British
forces and their allies; but their vital contributions to the Gallipoli
campaign has been overlooked..….Many
regard April 25, 1915, as the day when Australia truly forged its national identity.” (Manpreet K. Singh of Melbourne). Like the Australians a hundred years ago, young Sikhs in the diaspora are also re-discovering their proud military tradition and national identity.

The role of the Sikhs in World War I
is brought out together with that of other communities from undivided India. Despite
the confusing label “Indian” used in World War 1 commemorations for Hindus,
Muslims (many now in Pakistan and Bangladesh) and Sikhs in the undivided Indian
subcontinent, the role of the Sikhs in World War I as a distinct people, is now
increasingly acknowledged. In UK, a lion's share of the credit goes to dedicated Sikhs led by S. Harbinder Singh Rana of Anglo-Sikh Heritage Trail. Due to electronic media and extended family
communications, Sikhs in diaspora countries are well informed about Sikh participation
in the life of the nation in the UK. One article in “Daily Sikh Updates” of 17
March, lists ten progressive points about UK Sikhs from which Sikhs in other
countries can learn. The Sikh Manifesto
is listed as a major achievement in that article. The Manifesto also shows the
way to successful Sikh integration in the plural western societies.

It seems that, at last, diaspora Sikhs
are beginning to take up the “mistaken identity” challenge to unique Sikh
identity more seriously. The message loud and clear is that “We are Sikhs and
we have hard won rights as loyal citizens of the countries we live in”. The message is reaching the politicians,
mainstream media and the public.

Yet, Sikh miri-piri
(temporal-spiritual) ideology ensures that their loyalty is not unconditional.
The egalitarian Sikh ideology will support equality and justice for all; but, it
will oppose all types of discrimination, injustice and authoritarian regimes.
Sikhs have integrated and adopted British identity as loyal citizens, as the
second part of their “Sikh-British” identity. However, Sikhs have always
opposed “assimilation” i.e. absorption into the majority community, at the
expense of diversity. British society has evolved so that no one talks about
“assimilation” anymore.

Most civilised countries have evolved
to include diversity as an integral part of their way of life. Today, the
“English way of life” includes diversity. That is how the civilised world is
coping with the phenomenon of a shrinking global village in which diversity has
to co-exist with universal human values. That is a challenge for those
religious communities who are struggling to reconcile their religious codes and
practices with internationally accepted human rights.

British Sikhs should focus on the
Sikh Manifesto issues to secure a fairer deal in British pluralism. They need
no advice or support from abroad. They should not become embroiled in issues
such as caste politics in the UK. [It strains credulity to the limit when some
try to convince us that caste is a British colonial invention!]

There are some issues like the plight
of illegal immigrants from India, including Panjab, which require humanitarian
solutions. Such matters should be discussed and tackled in consultation with
the government. However, to take up such issues in the context of a general
election would be counterproductive in the current political climate.

The impression from Sikh diaspora
countries is that, at last, British Sikhs are getting their political act
together. While the Sikh Manifesto promotes
united action by UK Sikhs under ten points, it also encourages global Sikh communities to play a more
prominent public role in their adopted countries. It helps integration, while promoting Sikhs as
a distinct global theo-political community.

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